Client: Ohlone College

Overview

Celebration of Life is a snapshot in time of the Native People of the South San Francisco Bay. Inspired by an illustration by a European explorer dated 1806, male dancers of several tribes are depicted in traditional attire along with indigenous animals and native oak tree trunks. It is unknown what the occasion of the celebration might have been, but it is clearly a moment in time when potential enemies joined as one.

Goals

The sculptural model is part of Mario Chiodo's Fine Art Collection. It was spotted in his studio by a donor to Ohlone College in Fremont, CA, and the enlargement was commissioned. The new campus is nearing completion and the enlarged sculpture will be installed in October 2018.

Process

The finished bronze enlargement is 8' tall, 13.5' wide, and 8' deep. The campus designers created a niche for the artwork in an outside pavillion with lighting, seating, signage and landscaping. It will be visible from the windows of the adjacent building as well.

Additional Information

The dynamic gesture and posture of the five active men create an engaging composition that informs viewers about the life of these first inhabitants. It is both a pleasing artwork and notable historical monument.